To keep my "thin" clothes or accept that I'll never wear my Levi's again?

[lou967]

Hi all. I used to weigh 10st a few years ago after successfully slimming down from 16st. I'm 5ft8. Over the last year through working, life etc I've gained 3st back. I've been sorting through my wardrobe over the last few weeks and came across my "thin clothes". Once I'd slimmed down, I bought lots of designer jeans such as Levi's, Diesel and 7 For All Mankind in a 28 waist. I recently tried them on and I cant get them past my thighs. I absoloutely love my Levi's 501 and I don't want to part with them or any of my "thin clothes".

I love eating and would love some advice on whether to keep or bin/sell my thin clothes. I did calorie counting to lose the weight last time, but I can't seem to get motivated. Also, once I lose the weight, how do I make sure I don't gain it back? Do any of you weigh regular? If your jeans get tight, do you cut back until they fit?

As its lockdown, I want to try and slim back down. Any help, tips or ideas are welcome. Thanks

I've kept mine, for 8 years

And put on 2 more stone . . .

YOU CAN DO IT! Don't throw them! I've piled on a bit of weight recently and I am always usually on some sort of diet but right now I'm trying not dieting.

Have you heard of Intuitive Eating? I am making my way through the book right now and it's really good!

@Littleposh thats what I don't want to end up happening to me.

@LakeTittyHaHa thanks for your vote of confidence. I agree that 7 For All Mankind are the best jeans. They look amazing... when they fit!. I used to alternate between wearing my Levis and those. I've been very tempted to bin/sell but I am not giving up

@PicklePig31thanks for the tips. I agree 3lbs is better than 3stone. I need to lose and then come up with a maintenance plan.

@Hollyhead sounds like you've got a good plan in place. Well done you.

@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal well done you. It must be amazing to fit back into your thin clothes. A few others have mentioned low carbing. I may have a look into it.

I’ve lost around 17 lbs since January. I have another 7 to go to get to my ideal weight (9st). I’ve done a Joe Wicks most days, a bit of jogging and eating less but still basing my diet around the foods I actually like. I’ve not been militant and have the odd day of eating/drinking what I want.

Good luck! You can do it

Calorie deficit.

That’s literally it. Anyone who uses a low carb / high fat / sugar free / keto / intermittent fasting method is still just......eating less calories than they burn.

You can complicate it as much as you like with rules and regulations but the end of the day you must put in less calories than you put out.

Keep the jeans! Ditch the daily junk food and cut your calories down by a small deficit to start - reduce by say 200 a day to start then increase the deficit as you go. Much easier to stick to it, it’s slow but it’s manageable.

I currently have two boxes full of pre children clothes I’m aiming to be wearing by late summer!

I maintain my weight by being very strict on clothing - I’m miserable over a certain size so as soon as my clothes feel tight I cut back for 2-3 weeks and pick up the exercise.

This is also what I do. I have one pair of jeans in particular that are not at all forgiving/no stretch in the fabric. I use them as my marker and if they're ever feeling snug I watch what I eat for the next few days and use it as a reminder to fill my plate with healthier things like veg.

Keep the clothes OP, they serve as a fantastic reminder of what you achieved before and most certainly can again

I think the key to dieting is finding a diet where it doesn’t feel like a chore because you enjoy the food you can eat. Low carb is perfect for me cos I love meat and cheese and you can drink Sauvignon blanc and still lose weight!

I've read reviews of the NOOM weight loss app and it looks like the strategy is sensible, gradual weight loss with an emphasis on making permanent lifestyle changes. The idea is that you change your eating habits and attitudes to food and understand your "triggers" so that you no longer overeat/binge. There's an individual coach for one-on-one support and there are support groups. There are no forbidden foods so you can eat anything in moderation. I haven't tried NOOM but, just from reading about it, I have to say that it sounds sensible. It's about permanent lifestyle changes and keeping the weight off after you've lost it. I don't know how much it costs.

I'm the slimmest I've been in years due to low carbing (and 4-5 hard gym sessions a week when I can bloody get back there!)

Low carbing is great as you can still eat a lot and nice things like eggs, cheese, cream, meat, etc. However it can be difficult with a family as they eat a lot of rice and pasta and so I eat the sauce (e.g. chilli or bolognaise) but not the carbs that go with it.

But... it can be hard - we all have our 'off' days - and I sometimes go to bed with my stomach rumbling as I've had salad for tea rather than stodgy pasta.

However I'd rather be slim than eat too much and save my treat calories for prosecco at the weekend - less carbs than wine!

Don't bin them, that's like accepting this new weight is here to stay - it's not.
I used fruit to curb my sugar cravings and eventually I started craving fruit instead, and drinking lots of water fills you up, don't let the weight win.

Very cheesy saying but... weather you think you can or you can't, you are right - very true!

What about 5:2 op? Not a 'diet', very simple and no food groups off limits.

Don't do it! I gave away loads of clothes after gaining weight and now have lost it all and more and am crying over the clothes! Keep them and once you are ready you will lose the weight.

@rottiemum88 I may need to use that tip once I've lost the weight. I could use my beloved Levis 501. They are non stretch jeans.

@AnotherElle I love fruit, but I also love food in general!

@Gigia Bless you. It must feel awful but you can always go and buy some newer clothes. But the feeling of fitting into smaller clothes or old clothes cannot be beaten.

@pandarific I've heard good things about 5:2. A few people I know have used it, but not lost much weight. They used it to reduce sugar levels/blood pressure etc.

You ask about regular weighing. When I lost about 2.5 stone, 14 years ago I happened to read an article about how only 5% of people managed to keep the weight off for a sustained period. It also said that in a survey they’d seen that people who weighed themselves daily were far more likely to keep it off.

So that’s what I do. Every single day. I’m about 4-5 pounds over my actual target weight but I’m now post menopausal and that definitely adds a few pounds to most women.

Keep the jeans and when you are ready you will get them on again.

Don’t bin them, assuming you have space to store them....

Have you tried low carb? That has worked for me .

I have kept a Monsoon dress for over 25 years in the hope I will get back into it, it’s been in and out of fashion a few times in all those years but I still love it .

You can lose as much weight as you want to on it, definitely - have a look on the 5:2 U.K. Facebook group, it's very good.

@ragwort I do have space to store them. I don't want to bin them but somedays I feel like they are taunting me. After seeing all these positive comments on here its certainly changed my mind. They are not old or out of fashion jeans. But even if they were, I'd still want the satisfaction of fitting back into them.... one day

@MatildaTheCat thanks for the info. It seems regular weighing and clothes getting tight are used by others to maintain weight/keep weight under control. Its something I need to incorporate once I've managed to lose the weight.